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Radio Guest Blogger

How Many Gifts Are Enough?

Posted on 12.11.12 by a Guest Blogger

This post is written by Shawn Mazelin. 

Last week, I was talking with a group of moms about Christmas. The conversation went something like this:

“I just can’t afford Christmas this year,” one mom mourned.

“I know what you mean,” another sighed. “When I grew up, we had hundreds of gifts under the tree. Now I can’t seem to afford anything. Thank goodness for credit cards!”

I sat back and just listened to them talk for a few minutes. The conversation continued with the focus on the amount of gifts given, the cost of each item, and how much running from place to place they had to do to make this a successful Christmas. I understood—I’d been there.

Maybe some of what I shared with them would be helpful to you, too.

When I ponder the birth of Christ and all He came to do for us, I am humbled beyond belief. Instead of spending a lot of money to celebrate Christ’s birth, our family tries to create meaningful memories. Some of our favorite traditions include making hot cocoa and popcorn for everyone and packing into the car to look at Christmas lights. We also enjoy ice-skating on Christmas Eve at an outdoor rink before attending the Christmas Eve Service at our church.

The following day, we celebrate Christmas with a birthday cake for Jesus. To help us remember His Story, we make a chocolate cake representing the dark sin we have been saved from. We use red lettering for the blood that He shed on top of white frosting signifying His forgiveness. We finish it all off with yellow flowers and green leaves pointing to heaven and new life.

To help get our eyes off of ourselves and on to others, we like to give to another family in need. This year, we have decided to serve at a local homeless shelter to make their Christmas a little brighter.

Since Jesus received three gifts from the wise men, we choose to give three gifts to each of our children: something they need, something they really want, and something that points them to Christ (like a CD, a book, or perfume to remind them that they are a sweet aroma of Christ). 

What are some ways you celebrate Christ’s birth? How do you keep the meaning of Christmas central in your celebration?

Comments

  1. Great post! We celebrate Christmas with an advent Jesse Tree and enjoy family devotions by the Christmas tree every night with candles, a Bible story pointing to Jesus (from Genesis to Revelation over 25 days), an ornament to go with the story, and singing together as a family. By the time they are five, there is no question for them what Christmas is really about. It's about Jesus! (not presents.) This year the kids are getting a gift from Grandparents, but nothing from mom and dad, and I haven't heard a single complaint yet.
    posted by Michelle
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 9:36 am
  2. Wow..what a great post!For years I have wanted to focus more on others and less on presents. We have so much compared to so many. The problem lies with those whose love language is gifts, and with the different backgrounds and memories of what Christmas is all about. I so wish we would have started a tradition when our children were small with less presents or the excellent idea of three gifts and the reasons behind them.A word or advice to those with young children!Blessings to you.
    posted by kathy
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 10:27 am
  3. I love this post, Shawn! What a beautiful mom you are; what a beautiful family! Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!
    posted by Sarah
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 11:22 am
  4. What a great post.
    posted by lulu
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 2:42 pm
  5. I am so glad God is using this article to help us keep him first .Thank you for all your kind words , have a Merry Christmas!
    truewoman.com
    posted by Shawn
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 5:08 pm
  6. As our kids grew up we had a Christmas Prayer Stocking. Each Christmas Eve we first wrote out prayers for the next year and then took out the previous year's prayers and read through them. It was especially encouraging to see answered prayers and what others had been praying for throughout the year.

    One simple gift that is my favorite from our grandchildren is to hear them recite scripture, there is no better gift!!
    posted by Julie
    on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 6:02 pm
  7. Great ideas!! I think the 3 idea gift is great! Starting it this year
    posted by Mariella Rizek
    on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 5:32 am
  8. I shall surely try this at home!!
    posted by Wangu
    on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7:08 am

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